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The week in review., A week in pictures.

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Gord	Posted: Oct 2 2005, 04:25 AM
He is my doom! Group: Admin Posts: 2406 Member No.: 1 Joined: 25-October 03	I've never seen a sidecar in Korea, and now I know why. Seems they all splash into the river. Mr. Pizza pizza is made for women! Basically a thin-crust pizza with low-fat cheese and other steps to reduce any grease. It was actually pretty good and came in a larger size than what most pizza restaurants off (most do not offer anything larger than a 14" pizza). Three cents from each pizza sold goes to children's charities. This pizza cost $22. While I work on the Motorola Razr 2 project which goes into production next month, I was given an opportunity to work with Motorola on promoting the Razr in Korea. I declined as I have no experience in promoting products in Korea, but rather on shipping Korean products to overseas markets. Seems that the collective talents of everyone who did join the promotion team also knows nothing. All they did was toss up some posters around the city of a guy with a slashed shirt holding a phone and now they having dancing girls outside the electronics shopping market dance while a guy with a shirt with a slash decal on it dances around. WTF? And as a bonus, between dances people can text message the hostess with a message with win a free shirt. Jesus H. Christ on a pogo stick, people who are to know what they are doing whose best ideas are these which make me look like some sort of marketing expert and actually worth what I get paid. Sandbag barriers are still somewhat common. I pass by this one when I walk home from work. It's under a bridge of all places. Recently there have been protests in Korea by a small minority group that hates the U.S., loves North Korea, and probably hates me personally. That third claim is untrue, but the first two are real. And they are demanding that this MacArthur statue be torn down and the moment no one is looking that they will do it themselves. For the historically unaware, MacArthur arranged for the Incheon landing in the first days of the Korean war which turned back North Korean forces that had overrun almost all of South Korea (South Korean troops were a military in name only, they were equiped as a police force as few wanted to sell heavy arms to the South Korean government as the government made it very clear they wanted to arm up to liberate the north by force. North Korean troops had tanks, planes, larger calibre weapons and actual training of value courtesy of the Soviet Union). They claim that he ordered the raping and killing of women and other such acts. No evidence, but then that never used to be a problem back before the Internet came along and allowed people to fact-check rather easily. For about two years straight, riot police have now been stationed around the statue to ensure it doesn't get pulled down as the group has threatened. I also did a quick interview with some university students who were doing a media project. And these ex-marines have threatened to personally kick the asses of anyone who tries to make good on their claims of tearing down the statue. Given their track record of being more bad-ass than many of those promising to tear down the statue (many of whom did not complete their mandatory military service with the rest completing either the minimum required or were women who have never actually done anything truly hostile), I suspect they would win. This sign obviously means that you are suppose to run over children who are crossing the street. A Korean singer I hadn't heard of before. Her name is Bang-Mi. Possible cousin to Fook Me of Austin Powers fame? One would think with a name like that I would have noticed her before. Seems her last CD was in 2002 where she attempted to change genres from older Korean pop (which she had been doing since the 80s) into more sythesized dancish numbers. Given her complete disappearance from the marketplace, I would wager that it didn't sell well. Saw a changing of the Royal Guard at one of the imperial palaces. I'm somewhat surprised that they would still offer such ceremonies as a tourist attraction as the Royal Guard isn't really something to be proud of. Besides being abused by royalty (including death by starvation of many soldiers) and having many of it's own officers turn sides in attempting to murder the king in the 1870s, the only time it really ever saw conflict was in 1882 when an angry crowd of up to 4000 citizens charged the gate and attempted to murder the king who they were chasing and had just made it through the gate. Their ability to hold the line was less that they had skill or numbers, but rather that many in the crowd who had joined up just to murder someone heard that some Japanese citizens were attacking the palace so they turned their anger towards the Japanese legation which was then burned to the ground after the crowd murdered several Japanese citizens they came across. This angry crowd was primarily started by soldiers (including some from the Royal Guard) who had been kicked out because they were no longer viewed as being good enough soldiers and were quite unhappy at being paid in rice (mostly spoiled) that was padded with sand. Ice cream made from rice. Found in a food trade event I was walking through. How does it taste? No clue, I wasn't that brave. Pencil cases in the shape of snack food boxes or bags are popular with young children. Not legit, but knock-offs with chronic spelling mistakes. And on the back where nutritional information is listed, it says things like "100% of daily fun" or "200% daily love." A sign on the ground that tells me where to go... Follow the path! A fair amount of effort went into putting that down. No fires allowed! Normally beggers on the subway just walk down (often pretending to be blind) with music playing from a portable tape player. But with increase competition coupled with the relatively few people on this afternoon train, this woman decided to sit and pull on people's legs as over and over until they told her to fuck right off or just walked away. Poor camera angle as I dislike taking pictures of people without their consent when they know I'm targetting them specifically, so I have to be sneaky about it. The big project in Seoul these days was the reclaiming of a stream that was buried over with an above-ground freeway. They tore it down in 2003, and now is the big grand re-opening event weekend. The mayor of Seoul even spend $500,000US worth of taxpayers money on financing a show for the Discovery Channel in the U.S. to air about this project which was something he was promoting long before the project began. Traffic problems were claimed to have been avoided through a combination of people driving elsewhere (thus slowing down traffic elsewhere in Seoul, but that doesn't matter it seems), and through people just not driving close to the river and taking public transit (which, while quite good as an overall, is overly crowded during the mornings and in the evenings). As well, the temperature of Seoul is claimed to to have dropped by 3.6 degrees along the water. This was the week in review.

Lyrt

Posted: Oct 2 2005, 11:07 AM

Informative.

Group: Enlightened
Posts: 1687
Member No.: 198
Joined: 18-March 04

For those interested, useful idiot Park Seong-hwan wrote a song about MacArthur. I found the song, the lyrics and a translation on this blog. It’s a mix of clichés, manufactured quotes and tragedy like No GunRi which may or may not happened.

I remind everybody Park Seong-hwan is the same “artist” who performed Fucking USA two or three years ago.

QUOTE

맥아더 가사

1.남의나라 인천바다 바라보며 무슨생각 그리 하시나
망원경을 손에들고 어딜그리 바라보고 계속 계시나
노병은 죽지않고 사라진다 되내이며 암기 하시나
고향에선 천대받고 내가여기 왜 서있나 묻고 계시나 맥아더
2.사십오년 구월그날 이나라를 접수한날 생각 하시나
포고문을 발표하고 시민들엔 발포하던 생각 나시나
친일파들 앞세우고 이나라를 동강내던 생각 하시나
통일독립 염원하던 제주도민 학살하던 생각 나시나 맥아더

3. 노근리의 양민들을 쏴죽이라 명령했던 그자 맥아더
신천의 양민들을 기름으로 태워죽인 그자 맥아더
핵폭탄을 터트려서 이민족을 다 죽이려했던 맥아더
이게 무슨 은인이야 끌어내려 살인자의 동상 맥아더

(후렴)
맥아더 맥아더 맥아더 동상을 끌어내려
이제더 이제더 저거짓 우상을 섬기지 마라
맥아더 맥아더 맥아더 동상을 끌어내려
이제더 이제더 학살의 동상을 세우지 마라 끌어내려!

(맨트)
서울을 탈취하라 그곳에는 아가씨도 부인도 있다.
3일동안 서울은 제군의 것으로 될것이다.
-1950년 9월 유엔군사령관 맥아더

Macarthur Lyrics

1.What are you thinking while gazing at someone else’s country’s Incheon sea?
With your binoculars in hand where do keep looking like that?
While you keep repeating, “Old soldiers don’t die they just disappear” do you learn it by heart?
Contradicting recommendations from home, are you asking why you are standing here? Macarthur.

2.Do you recall that day in September 45 years ago when you seized control of this country?
Do you recall announcing your declaration and opening fire on the citizens?
Do you recall putting the pro-Japanese at the front and breaking this country into pieces?
Do you recall massacring the citizens of Chejudo who desired unity and independence? Macarthur.

3. The man who ordered the good citizens of Nogeun-ri shot and killed. Macarthur.
The man that burned and killed the good citizens of Shincheon with oil. Macarthur.
Macarthur who intended to kill this entire people by exploding nuclear bombs.
What kind of benefactor is this? Take down the statue of the murderer Macarthur!

(Chorus)
Macarthur, Macarthur, Macarthur, take down the statue!
Now, now don’t serve that false idol
Macarthur, Macarthur, Macarthur, take down the statue!
Now, now don’t erect a statue to carnage, take it down!

(Narration)
“Seize Seoul. There are girls and ladies there. For three days, Seoul will be yours — UN Commander Douglas MacArthur, September 1950.”

--------------------

Are you new? Read the shiny rules and make mom and dad happy!

buddy bradley	Posted: Oct 2 2005, 08:34 PM
Advanced Member Group: Enlightened Posts: 84 Member No.: 216 Joined: 6-April 04	And, Mr. Pizza gives out free Mr. Pizza Babel Blocks with each "Made for Women" pizza! All you heathens and non-believers, come to Korea lickety-split, lest these fine blocks of free wood run dry!

JavisKefka	Posted: Oct 2 2005, 10:07 PM
Secret NASA insider. Tell no one! Group: Enlightened Posts: 277 Member No.: 1107 Joined: 8-February 05	Oddly enough, while walking with friends tonight, we remarked puzzedly at the subtext "Made for women". I suppose it's no mere coincidence then that I can think of two separate Mr. Pizza locations near Ewha. I guess it's well-being pizza. What is a Babel Block? -------------------- Now hear this mixture Where hip hop meets scripture Develop a negative into a positive picture In fact I doubt whether there is a more decisive moment for a thinking being than when the scales fall from his eyes and he discovers that he is not an isolated unit lost in the cosmic solitudes, and realises that a universal will to live converges and is hominised in him.

... sarang

Posted: Oct 3 2005, 01:59 PM

I have a point! Or do I?

Group: Members
Posts: 69
Member No.: 1457
Joined: 24-June 05

Gord, You have piercing eyes.
By the bye, "and having many of it's own officers turn sides in attempting to murder the king in the 1870s," is historically unsupported by the following sources.

The Rice Revolt (1882년 임오군난)
By Robert Neff

QUOTE

The summer of 1882 brought many changes to Korea, including the establishment of treaties with the West, but it did not bring the anticipated rains. Wells and streams dried up and without water the rice crop died in the fields.
...
The Kingdom of Korea was economically broke. The government’s excesses had left the country unable to pay its debts, including the military’s wages. One of the reforms introduced by the government was the establishment of a Japanese-trained military unit. This new unit received preferential treatment, being better equipped and paid. It was mainly made up of young men of wealth and social standing, the youth of the yangban. The soldiers were under the instruction of 1st Lieutenant Horimoto Reizo and three Japanese non-commissioned officers, who lived in the barracks compound with their soldiers.

The reforms in the military had also caused great stress among the Korean population. Nearly 1,000 soldiers from the old units were dismissed because they were too old or disabled and no longer fit to serve. Losing their source of income, they became a burden to their families and to Korean society. The people took to the streets in protest. In addition, soldiers still in the old units were poorly equipped and did not receive pay for several months. They looked upon the new unit with great jealousy and contempt.

King Kojong, realizing the danger of the situation, ordered Min Kyong-ho, the supervisor of the rice stores, to pay the discharged men a month’s rations of rice along with the rest of the unpaid Korean soldiers. However, Min did what many officials had done before him: he filled his own pockets with what was supposed to have gone to the people.

Min sold the good rice and distributed rotten rice containing sand to the old units, pocketing the profits. When the soldiers gathered to protest the poor treatment they had received, Min had them arrested and sentenced to death for mutiny. What started as a simple demonstration soon became a mutiny and then a full revolt.

On July 23, a rebellion broke out in the capital when the soldiers joined the common people in the streets. A crowd of some 4,000 soldiers and common people freed the soldiers held in jail, in addition to several other prisoners. The angry mob then sought a target for their wrath. One of their first victims was Min, who was brutally murdered in his home.

According to one account, King Kojong and some of his staff were nearly captured by the mob while they were outside praying for rain, barely making their way back to the palace. It was then that someone in the mob began yelling that the Japanese had attacked the royal palace. The mob then turned its attention to the Japanese. 1st Lieutenant Reizo and three of his aides were literally ripped apart when they were found in their barracks by the blood-thirsty mob. Many Japanese encountered on the streets or in shops were similarly killed.
...
It is unclear how the Japanese legation came to be burned. Some sources claim the Korean mob were responsible while other sources claim Hanabusa ordered his staff to set it on fire to prevent the Koreans from occupying it.
...
The Rice Riot and the following events led to a weakening of Korea.
...
Nine Korean rioters were arrested, and four of them executed in front of Hanabusa for their roles in the slaughter of Japanese merchants and their families. From then China maintained a large army in Korea to maintain stability and Japan was given the right to keep a large garrison of soldiers to protect the Japanese living in Korea. Finally, Korea was forced to pay 500,000 taels as compensation to the Japanese government.

The summer of 1882 marked the opening of Korea to the West and also the beginning of Choson’s end.

source : http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/opinion/20...17312854150.htm

[The Dawn of Modern Korea] (311) Return of the King
By Andrei Lankov

QUOTE

The two centuries between the Manchu invasions of the 1630s and the Western invasion of the 1870s were a very settled period in Korean history. No invading armies threatened, no court conflict resulted in open rebellion and all popular uprisings took place away from the capital.

But all this came to an end in July 1882, when riots erupted in Seoul. This was the first time when _ after two centuries of peace and tranquility _ violence broke out on the streets of the Korean capital.

...
In the early 1880s, the Min government was steering the country toward moderate reforms. They began with an area where Korea’s backwardness was most visible and dangerous _ the military. In 1881, 100 young men from the gentry were chosen to be trained by Japanese military instructors. They were to become the core of the modern Korean army. The Japanese instructors were led by Lieutenant Horimoto, then military attache of the Japanese legation.

It was also decided to radically downsize the old armed forces. This was understandable _ the efficiency of the old army as a fighting force was zero. However, the soldiers of the old army were not too eager to lose their jobs. Furthermore, by the summer of 1882, those soldiers had not received their salary for 13 months. In contrast to this, the personnel of the Japanese-trained units were paid well, and on time. The old army believed that some people from the Min faction were stealing their money _ and they were probably correct in this assumption.

The July mutiny was triggered by the decision to finally pay the salaries. The soldiers’ salaries were paid in kind with rice, but the newly arrived rice proved to be of poor quality and had been mixed with sand. This led to an outrage that was directed against three targets: the Min government, soldiers of the new army and the Japanese.[.color]

The anti-Japanese feelings were widely shared and many townspeople joined the mutiny. A number of Japanese nationals and Min supporters were killed _ including Lieutenant Horimoto. The Japanese minister and most of his staff fled to Inchon, boarded a British ship and departed for Japan.
...
and a large indemnity was paid to Japan to compensate for the slaughter of Japanese citizens.

source : http://search.hankooki.com/times/times_vie...30.htm&media=kt

[COLOR=purple]The sumun(수문, 守門, guarding a gate) and gyodae(교대, 交代, a relief) ceremony...
user posted image

--------------------

He who knows how to flatter also knows how to slander.
One rotten apple spoils the barrel.

... sarang	Posted: Oct 3 2005, 02:56 PM
I have a point! Or do I? Group: Members Posts: 69 Member No.: 1457 Joined: 24-June 05	Most Koreans (include me) in ROK love Douglas MacArthur. "Let's love MacArthur (words and music by Song Mahn-Gee)" extols MacArthur to the sky. source : http://www.dkbnews.com/bbs/zboard.php?id=h...esc=asc&no=5370 -------------------- He who knows how to flatter also knows how to slander. One rotten apple spoils the barrel.

Beowulf

Posted: Oct 3 2005, 04:01 PM

Advanced Member

Group: Enlightened
Posts: 841
Member No.: 753
Joined: 13-November 04

QUOTE

Most Koreans (include me) in ROK love Douglas MacArthur.

It's times like this that make me wish we had more guys like MacArthur or Patton in charge of our troops.

--------------------

Ain't dead yet.

Reave	Posted: Oct 3 2005, 04:36 PM
Advanced Member Group: Enlightened Posts: 228 Member No.: 896 Joined: 10-December 04	...except when he wanted to continue the advance of the US army into China, string-nuke several major Chinese cities, and basically take over as much as possible. After Truman told him 'no,' he made several comments about Truman. Truman promptly fired him afterwards. Now, I'm not fan of China, but the use of (quote) "a series of atomic bombs" seems a bit more... apocalyptic than I prefer... -------------------- There are 11 types of people in the world: - Those who understand binary - Those who do not understand binary - Those who try to use this joke out loud instead of written

rabbitinpumpkin

Posted: Oct 3 2005, 04:50 PM

Advanced Member

Group: Members
Posts: 144
Member No.: 534
Joined: 12-October 04

Maybe MacArthur, but Patton? The guy would run past his supply lines because he was so eager to knock over the Krauts with America's shiny new tanks.

I'd rather have Rommel as a tank commander. (Yes he was a Nazi, but a great tank commander) Some say if Hitler had listened to him, the beaches would have never been taken.

QUOTE (Reave @ Oct 3 2005, 09:36 AM)

...except when he wanted to continue the advance of the US army into China, string-nuke several major Chinese cities, and basically take over as much as possible. After Truman told him 'no,' he made several comments about Truman. Truman promptly fired him afterwards.

Ironically he told JFK to avoid military buildup in Vietnam...

This post has been edited by rabbitinpumpkin on Oct 3 2005, 05:04 PM

Reave	Posted: Oct 3 2005, 05:01 PM
Advanced Member Group: Enlightened Posts: 228 Member No.: 896 Joined: 10-December 04	Couldn't say anything about Patton, other than the few goods things I've heard. The only reason I know stuff about MacArthur are from all the history reports I did during my grade school and high school years. And yes, history has proven that Hitler was a moron - and thank God for that. -------------------- There are 11 types of people in the world: - Those who understand binary - Those who do not understand binary - Those who try to use this joke out loud instead of written

rabbitinpumpkin

Posted: Oct 3 2005, 05:10 PM

Advanced Member

Group: Members
Posts: 144
Member No.: 534
Joined: 12-October 04

QUOTE (Reave @ Oct 3 2005, 10:01 AM)

Couldn't say anything about Patton, other than the few goods things I've heard. The only reason I know stuff about MacArthur are from all the history reports I did during my grade school and high school years.

And yes, history has proven that Hitler was a moron - and thank God for that.

I did a report on him as well, but it was mainly on A type and B type personalities.
Patton was definetly an A.
Dwight Eisenhower, the guy below him eventually became his superior and went on to be Prez of the USA.

This post has been edited by rabbitinpumpkin on Oct 3 2005, 05:11 PM

Beowulf

Posted: Oct 3 2005, 08:18 PM

Advanced Member

Group: Enlightened
Posts: 841
Member No.: 753
Joined: 13-November 04

QUOTE

I'd rather have Rommel as a tank commander. (Yes he was a Nazi, but a great tank commander) Some say if Hitler had listened to him, the beaches would have never been taken.

Rommel was a tank commander and that's really all he was good for. He was good at his job though, the only reason he lost North Africa was because he literally ran out of gas. The beaches were going to fall, it was really just a matter of when not how. Rommel was in charge of all beach defenses and they still failed. It was simply impossible to defend that much territory against that many men.

--------------------

Ain't dead yet.

Hardware	Posted: Oct 4 2005, 01:22 AM
Advanced Member Group: Enlightened Posts: 418 Member No.: 98 Joined: 18-December 03	There are those who aren't such big fans of MacArthur. And I'm not speaking of the current crowd. I read a book, loaned to me by my late step-father, which blamed some of Japan's early gains in WWII on MacArthur's unwillingness to enter the war, lest he piss off his Phillipine friends. After the U.S. armed forces were on a state of official war-alertness, he was supposed to immediately launch a bombing attack against one of Japan's larger airfields. He could have done so, but waited until someone told him expressly to do so, even though his orders were quite clear on the matter already. While he waited, the airfield in question was under a fogbank, and would have been devestated, due to the Japanese inability to take-off. The fog eventually lifted, they left, and bombed American airfields. What he did in Japan, with its rebuilding, was quite a good thing, as was his campaign in Korea. He was no saint however, least of which being the example of him talking against his boss, President Truman. Unfortuantely, me step-father, being late as he is, is unable to loan me the book again, and I can't remember its name. I'll ask my mom if she remembers the book, but she probably already gave it away, or threw it out. I apologize for not having links to help inform. James :\

Beowulf

Posted: Oct 5 2005, 05:44 AM

Advanced Member

Group: Enlightened
Posts: 841
Member No.: 753
Joined: 13-November 04

QUOTE

What he did in Japan, with its rebuilding, was quite a good thing, as was his campaign in Korea. He was no saint however, least of which being the example of him talking against his boss, President Truman.

True, but keep in mind that if you added up every general in the current US military, they wouldn't add up to one third of MacArthur.

--------------------

Ain't dead yet.

Temuchin	Posted: Oct 7 2005, 11:27 PM
Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 32 Member No.: 1634 Joined: 24-July 05	Korean Imperial guards were among the elite of the soldiery way back then. according to Royal Josun Scripts(ehh....Sil-Lok), the guards were chosen by series of tests such as horse archery, swordmanship, spearing skills, graded on their calvalry charges and even tested on their calligraphy. These guys were the elite of the elite and by Jung-Jo; one of the most militaristic and scientific kings in Medieval Korea, they were the lead on military marches, model training and combat training. So they could be looked up to common soldiers who were drafted in 5 or 7 year basis to have regular traing (and had to buy their own equipment) and prepare for emergencies. BUT, they quickly became corrupted by the late 1800's, became a pawn to both Manchurian Dynasty and Japanese empire's "Secret Ops" and was the first ones to break down the Imperial Gates when "Min Bi", Empress of Chosun was murdered by Japanese assasins and raped afterwards. Those assasins had some really grotesque fetishes. Anyways, City of Seoul does the Change of Imperial Guards to attract more tourists. It's all in the money I guess because now I'm looking forward to go back to Seoul now. -------------------- Small little Asian in Big Canada...Me no speaka englisee~

nolanXL	Posted: Oct 8 2005, 05:15 AM
The jerk who deletes your posts. Group: Admin Posts: 515 Member No.: 321 Joined: 7-August 04	It's pretty easy to have empathy for the North and it's cheerleaders when it comes to MacArthur. "I would have dropped between 30 and 50 atomic bombs... strung across the neck of Manchuria." Several of those would have been the cobalt type, rendering the areas uninhabitable for a hundred years. He was also in charge during the indiscriminate bombing campaign. July 31, 1950: The city of Hungnum was hit with 500 tons of ordinance, delivered through the clouds by radar. November 8, 1950: The city of Sinuiju was removed from the map with 550 tons of incinedary bombs. Over December 14 to 15, 1950 Pyongyang was hit with seven hundred 500-pound bombs, napalm from Mustang fighters and 175 tons of fuse delayed detonation bombs. Agricultural dams were also targeted and destroyed. (A pretty obvious war crime.) Source: Bruce Cummings, North Korea, 2004 In the North, they sit through propaganda classes every morning for a couple hours, with part of it reminding everyone of the holocaust suffered at the hands of the UN (American) bombing campaign. To the North Korean, the reality of the Korean War isn't a distant memory. They're exposed to it every day. It think it'll come down one day. Eventually there will be peace and possibly reunification. It'll be a long road, but I imagine that the MacArthur statue will be a sore spot for the North. I think once more progress is made, no one is going to let a piece of bronze get in the way. -------------------- ...

Lyrt

Posted: Oct 8 2005, 07:18 AM

Informative.

Group: Enlightened
Posts: 1687
Member No.: 198
Joined: 18-March 04

QUOTE (Temuchin @ Oct 8 2005, 01:27 AM)

BUT, they quickly became corrupted by the late 1800's, became a pawn to both Manchurian Dynasty and Japanese empire's "Secret Ops" and was the first ones to break down the Imperial Gates when "Min Bi", Empress of Chosun was murdered by Japanese assasins and raped afterwards.

Those assasins had some really grotesque fetishes.

I’ve seen that legend claimed many times but it appears it is not supported by facts.

--------------------

Are you new? Read the shiny rules and make mom and dad happy!

... sarang

Posted: Oct 9 2005, 06:37 AM

I have a point! Or do I?

Group: Members
Posts: 69
Member No.: 1457
Joined: 24-June 05

QUOTE

Lyrt (Posted on Oct 8 2005, 07:18 AM )
I’ve seen that legend claimed many times but it appears it is not supported by facts.

Wail over the death of Empress Myeongseong and Japan's Mass Rape and Sexual Enslavement.
I'm crushed with grief.

user posted image

image source : http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0505090012.html

user posted image

image source : Japanese Illustration of Last Korean Queen Discovered

user posted image

image source : http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0501120024.html

user posted image

image source : http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0505090012.html

user posted image

image source : http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0505100009.html

QUOTE

...
According to Bishop's graphic descriptions, the queen, who was then 44, was a "very nice-looking slender woman, with glossy raven-black hair and very pale skin" and "the eyes were cold and keen and the general expression one of brilliant intelligence." Indicating that she was drawn to the irresistible charisma of the Korean queen, Bishop also said, "On each occasion I was impressed with the grace and charming manner of the Queen, her thoughtful kindness, her singular intelligence and force and her remarkable conversational power."
...

source : http://kn.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html...00102100030.asp
user posted image

Account Describes Empress Myongsong's Assassination
source : http://search.hankooki.com/times/times_vie...&kw=Queen%20Min

QUOTE

A written account by a foreigner who witnessed the events leading up to the murder of Empress Myongsong of the Choson Kingdom on an October night in 1895 was made public for the first time Wednesday.
...
The documentation, discovered by professor Kim Rekho of the Russian Academy of Sciences, was written by Sergei Shabatin, a Russian architect working at Kyongbok Palace during the late 19th and early 20th century. It describes in detail of what he witnessed in the early hours of October 8, 1895.
...
``The brutal murder of the empress by Japanese assassins was a crime crossing international borders,'' professor Park Tae-kun of Myungji University, told The Korea Times yesterday. "This is a historically significant find in the fact that the records were written by a person at the scene who was of neither Korean nor Japanese nationality."

The empress, also known as Queen Min (1851-1895), was assassinated on Oct. 8, 1895 under a plot allegedly made by Miura Goro, then Japanese ambassador to Korea.

At dawn on the day, 55 assassins broke into Kyongbok Palace and killed the empress at her quarters in Okholu, Kongchung Palace. They burned her corpse in the pine forest in front of Okholu and then dispersed the ashes.

In the account, the architect, who did not know what the empress looked like, describes her as a court lady in the final paragraph. "The raid of the castle started at 5 o'clock in the morning," he writes. ``The sound of roaring voices came from outside the northeast gates. From hearing their fluent speech, there is no telling that they had rehearsed beforehand. Soldiers guarding the palace had already fled. Five Japanese guards and an officer stood before the doors to the queen's chambers. At that time a troop and 20-25 men in traditional Japanese attire or western-style suits stood in the courtyard.

"Having been seized by soldiers myself, when I was standing in the courtyard I saw 10-12 court ladies being dragged by their hair before they were thrown out the window. Not a single court lady let out a cry to break the complete silence. In the last moments to the 15 minutes I stood in the courtyard, five Japanese men snarled as they rushed into the chambers only to be seen dragging out one court lady by her hair."

Shabatin lived in the court grounds from August of that year. Soon after the assassination he fled to Shantung, China, where he documented what he had seen.

What a devilish, beastly act! It was unparalleled anywhere in the world.
source : http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/opinion/20...17172711350.htm

QUOTE

Oct. 8, 2001 marked the 106th anniversary of the assassination of Empress Myongsong (Queen Min, wife of King Kojong, 1851-1895).

Queen Min was assassinated by a group of Japanese bandits who invaded the Kyongbok Palace under a plot hatched by Miura Goro, the Japanese minister in Seoul.
...
On the evening of Nov. 17, 2001, KBS presented a documentary program titled ``Yoksa (history) Special,'' which featured the discovery of secret diplomatic documents at a Moscow historical archive sent by Karl Waeber, Russian minister in Seoul to the Emperor. The report is authentic because it was based on an eyewitness account by a Russian subordinate at close range.

Moreover, Waeber was an extremely able and well-informed diplomat. He made an extremely good evaluation of the power play conducted by Qing China and Japan.

Miura Goro succeeded Inoue Kaoru as Japanese minister in Seoul. Miura, a retired army lieutenant general, personally plotted the assassination of Queen Min by mobilizing the bandits, who called themselves "soshi" under his command.

At dawn on Oct. 8, 1895, the bandits intruded into Kyongbok Palace. At the Okholu, Kongchung Palace (the Queen's Quarter) they killed three ladies suspected of being Queen Min. When they confirmed that one of them was Queen Min, they violated her dead body, burned the corpse in the pine forest in front of the Okholu and then dispersed the ashes. What a devilish, beastly act! It was unparalleled anywhere in the world. Indeed, Japanese imperial expansion was dotted with such inhumane acts.

The bandits were given a safe-conduct from Inchon to Japan under the protection of the Japanese government.

The crime and atrocity committed by the agents of the Japanese government were closely witnessed by the foreign diplomats stationed in Seoul and ignited worldwide protest. The Japanese government was driven into a difficult situation. To appease growing criticism worldwide, the Japanese government recalled Miura and placed him under a show trial at the Hiroshima District Court and the military personnel involved were tried at the military court. All were given the verdict of not guilty on the ground of a lack of clear-cut evidence.

After the Japanese annexation of Korea in 1910, Miura was honored and awarded a seat at the ``Sumistsuyen'' (the Privy Council), the advisory board to the Emperor.

In this way, Japan set a precedent in which a major criminal was not punished and instead rewarded with honor.
...
Eventually, conflict between the reform and conservative forces intertwined the struggle between the Taewongun and Queen Min emerged as the successor. Miura backed Taewongun, as he considered him to be pro-Japanese.

Queen Min was especially sagacious and had a high vision for the future course of Korea. Villetard de Lagueril, a correspondent of Le Temps dispatched to the Far East, concluded in his book published in 1898 that Queen Min was the only leader who could lead Korea to prevent a Japanese takeover. A similar view was shared by an aide who worked for the American minister in Seoul.

Of all the horrible crimes and atrocities committed by Japan before it annexed Korea in 1910, the most notorious was the assassination of Queen Min.

Indeed, it set a precedent for state-sponsored terrorism, more than a hundred years before the Sept. 11, 2001 World Trade Center attack. If Seoul and Tokyo agreed to launch joint history studies, the assassination of Queen Min can be an appropriate subject to start with.

Death of Empress Myeongseong

QUOTE

...
The mercenary killers raped and slaughtered three women suspected of being Queen Min, and when they verified which was the Queen they raped her and they desecrated her body, displayed it in a small circle, cut it to pieces, and then burned the corpse. Other witness accounts indicate she was raped then burned alive. Other accounts claim that she was stabbed and stomped on, or that she was not raped, but instead had her genitals molested posthumously. [2]

These criminal acts were witnessed by Russian architects and one of the guards named Sabatin and other foreign officials, who protested heavily. To appease these protests, and other growing criticism worldwide, the Japanese government eventually brought Miura Goro and the other assassins to a criminal court. However, all were cleared of murder charges on the grounds of a lack of clear-cut evidence.

Emperor Gojong, enraged over the event, posthumously awarded his late wife the title "Myeongseong" and enshrined her in Jongmyo, Korea's state shrine. She is the only empress enshrined in Jongmyo; all other females are queens.
...

source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empress_Myeongseong_of_Korea

Japanese Document Sheds New Light on Korean Queen's Murder

QUOTE

Newly released Japanese material provides important information about the notorious 1895 murder of Empress Myeongseong -- also known as Queen Min -- by Japanese thugs. The material reveals that although it is commonly believed that the empress was killed in her bedroom, she was actually dragged outdoors and publicly hacked to death with a sword.
On Wednesday, Seoul National University history professor Lee Tae-jin released a secret document on the murder of Empress Myeongseong that he discovered at the Record Office of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The five-page report, written by the Japanese consul in Seoul at the time, was composed after investigation at the crime scene and sent back to Japan on January 4, 1896, no more than three months after the incident. Analysts say the report is therefore highly credible.

It says Japanese thugs broke into the Gyeongbok Palace through the Geoncheong-gung north of the Hyangwon-jeong pavilion, where the king and queen slept. There report also indicates the place where the empress's body was temporarily displayed and where it was later burned.

The route taken by the killers is shown on a detailed map of the Gyeongbok Palace, with the Japanese entering through Gwanghwa-mun -- the front gate of the palace -- passing to the left of Gyeonghoe-ru pavilion and entering the Geoncheong-gung.
...
The killers then moved her body to a room east of the Gol-lyeong-hap hall and put it briefly on display. The document records that the bandits then took the body to an artificial hill south of what is now the National Folk Museum and burned it.
...
Prof. Lee said. "Considering that Japan covered up the actual location of the murder for so long, it is evident that the Japanese themselves acknowledged the barbarity of the incident."

source : http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0501120024.html

Descendants of Korean Queen's Assassins Apologize

QUOTE

Two descendants of the assassins of Empress Myeongseong, also known as Queen Min, visited Korea on Monday to apologize 110 years after her brutal slaying. The two are Tatsumi Kawano, the grandson of Shigeaki Kunitomo, a key figure in the assassination, and Keiko Ieiri, the wife of the grandson of Kakitsu Ieiri.
Kunitomo, who worked for Adachi Kenjo's Japanese-language newspaper Hanseong Shinbo at the time, led the thugs who broke into Gyeongbok Palace to assassinate the queen.
...
Kunitomo was charged along with Japanese consul to Korea Koro Miura and 54 others for the assassination of Empress Myeongseong, but a Hiroshima court freed them all in 1896 for want of evidence.
...
The visit was arranged by freelance journalist Jeong Su-ung, who has been tracking the descendents of the assassins since last year. "The apology by the descendent of the assassins is a start to improving the Korea-Japan relationship, which has grown so tangled over the last 110 years." Jeong's documentary of the visit will be broadcast on SBS TV in August.

source : http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0505090012.html

QUOTE

Tatsumi Kawano's face clearly showed the strain when the 84-year old arrived at Incheon Airport on Monday evening.
Together with his companions on the trip, he bowed his head in greeting and wept. The grandson of Shigeaki Kunitomo, who led the Japanese thugs who broke into the Gyeongbok Palace and assassinated Empress Myeongseong in 1895, [color=blue]Kawano said, "When I was young, I used to play with Empress Myeongseong's key bag, which my grandfather brought back from Korea."
...

source : http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/new...0505100009.html

user posted image

http://www.thelastempress.com/en/last/background.html

This post has been edited by ... sarang on Oct 9 2005, 07:11 AM

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He who knows how to flatter also knows how to slander.
One rotten apple spoils the barrel.

nolanXL

Posted: Oct 9 2005, 08:51 AM

The jerk who deletes your posts.

Group: Admin
Posts: 515
Member No.: 321
Joined: 7-August 04

QUOTE

When they confirmed that one of them was Queen Min, they violated her dead body, burned the corpse in the pine forest in front of the Okholu and then dispersed the ashes.

QUOTE

The mercenary killers raped and slaughtered three women suspected of being Queen Min, and when they verified which was the Queen they raped her and they desecrated her body, displayed it in a small circle, cut it to pieces, and then burned the corpse. Other witness accounts indicate she was raped then burned alive. Other accounts claim that she was stabbed and stomped on, or that she was not raped, but instead had her genitals molested posthumously.

Which was it sarang? How was she killed?

Secondly, please tell everyone what made this act (the assassination) so vile that one would "wail" over it.

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Gord	Posted: Oct 9 2005, 09:07 AM
He is my doom! Group: Admin Posts: 2406 Member No.: 1 Joined: 25-October 03	A large problem with the issue of the murder is that it's been elevated to a rallying call in re-writing of Korean history. This wasn't the first attempt on her life, nor are the claims made consistant. -It is claimed by some that she was the only one killed, by other events every woman in the palace was killed. -It is claimed by some that she was raped then murdered, by others she was murdered than raped. -It is claimed that her cause of death was a stabbing, by others she was stranged, yet in others she was hacked to death (which would probably eliminate the option of raping after death). -It is claimed by some that her body was left in the royal grounds, by others she was drug outside. -It is claimed by some that she was buried, in others she was hung up, and by others the body was completely burned to ash and the ash was scattered. (the ash one amuses me as it takes 2 hours at 2000 degrees to ash a body, in a campfire it would take days if not weeks) -It is claimed by some she was killed by a dozen silent assassins, by others that an angry mob stormed the palace. -It is claimed by some that the palace guards allowed the murder as they were in on the operation, by others that they were overpowered. -It is claimed by some that she was killed by Japanese soldies, Japanese businessmen, Japanese mafia types, Japanese commoners, and by Korean commoners. -It is claimed by some that the king was forced to watched her being raped, by others that head servents had to watch, and in others that she was drug outside so everyone could watch. -It is claimed by some she was murdered in the bedroom, by others in another room, by yet others she was killed in the courtyard, and yet by even more that she was killed outside the compound. I'm all for truthful stories, but what happened with her has been elevated to whatever story of the day people felt like claiming. And people who do research into the events and return with summaries saying that what people want to believe is true simply isn't, they get generally ignored as it doesn't play up well in the media.

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